WESTPORT, Conn. — Maplewood Senior Living has announced that Gregory Smith, its founder, president and CEO, died over the weekend. Although the cause of death was not released, the company made it clear that the passing was not expected. He was 54.
Smith founded the Westport-based company in 2004 and it has grown to 16 communities across five states since that time. In recent years he launched the company’s high-end Inspīr brand, starting with the 23-story, 215-unit Inspīr Carnegie Hill on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
“Greg was a true inspiration to all of us,” says Tom Gaston, Maplewood’s chief investment officer. “We are all very grateful to him for his fearless leadership, vision and steadfast commitment to helping to change the promise and potential of our later years.”
“Greg’s impact on the industry and his team was extraordinary,” says Taylor Pickett, chief executive officer of Omega Healthcare Investors, which is Maplewood’s capital partner on the Inspīr brand. “He had bold ideas and a collaborative spirit, which helped him attract a winning team and made us proud to partner with Maplewood.”
“Greg’s passion was infectious and drove all of us to push the boundaries of what was possible,” says Shane Herlet, Maplewood’s chief operating officer.
A native of Massachusetts, Smith studied marketing and finance at Bentley University. He served as chairman of the board of directors for Ability Beyond, was a long-standing member on the board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association New York City Chapter, and was a loyal donor supporting many projects and campaigns across Nuvance Health including the establishment of the Andrew Cruz Endowed Chair in Palliative Care.